MCF Announces $3 Million in Grants to Help Students Prepare for and Attend College

June 16, 2010

contact: Fred Silverman (415.464.2527 or via email)

To help students in Marin County graduate from high school and continue their education, the Marin Community Foundation (MCF) is making $3 million in grants to a range of community-based organizations that offer college readiness and scholarship programs.

The specific goal of these efforts, says MCF President Thomas Peters, is to “increase the number of students who enroll in college 10% in each year of this five-year initiative. We are focusing on students who often struggle to succeed beyond high school, especially low-income students and students of color.

“Having a college degree means much more to the graduates than increasing their probability of being employed or earning higher incomes, although that’s certainly one important outcome,” Peters added. “It also means being able to reach their potential, lead more fulfilling and productive lives, and serve as a role model for their children and other young people in their lives.”

The grants, being made to 11 organizations, will help students complete graduation requirements, learn about the college admissions process and select an appropriate school, become informed about financial aid programs, receive scholarships, and prepare for the personal challenges of attending college.

“Collectively, the programs we are funding will help students while they are still in middle and high school all the way through college,” said Peters. “By ensuring support throughout this process, we are confident that more students will be more prepared and motivated to continue their education and, importantly, receive the support they need to succeed.”

A list of grant recipients follows:

10,000 Degrees (formerly Marin Education Fund): college awareness, scholarship, and college access programs: $1.8 million

Bridge the Gap: after-school academic and personal readiness programs for middle school students in Sausalito-Marin City: $50,000

Canal Alliance: after-school academic and personal readiness programs for middle and high school students in the Canal neighborhood of San Rafael: $150,000

College Dream Team: academic support, personal readiness, and college awareness programs for San Rafael High School students: $50,000

Hannah Project: academic support, personal readiness, college awareness, and scholarship programs for high school and college students in Sausalito-Marin City: $50,000

Huckleberry Youth Programs: academic support and college awareness programs focusing on the health care field: $200,000

Marin Academy’s Crossroads Program: after-school and summer academic programs for middle and high school students in San Rafael: $100,000

Next Generation Scholars: academic support, personal readiness, and college awareness programs: $75,000

Summer Search: academic support and college readiness programs for West Marin students: $25,000

University of California’s MESA Program: academic support in math and science for middle school students: $80,000

Youth Leadership Institute: academic preparation, personal readiness, and college awareness programs for students in San Rafael and Novato: $250,000

Additionally, a grant of $150,000 will support the coordination of a range of college readiness and awareness programs by providers working in Marin County.

These efforts are part of the Foundation’s multi-faceted approach to close the educational gap in Marin, which is one of its Strategic Initiatives. Other strategies within this initiative are funding efforts to help students prepare for school by taking part in early childhood education programs, to improve instruction in basic skills in grades K-3, and to help schools transform the way they help students succeed.

“We’re excited about including so many community-based organizations in this initiative,” added Peters. “It’s significant that for many students, taking part in after-school and summer programs can make a big difference in their academic and personal futures. And we’re lucky in Marin to have such committed and effective organizations reach out to support our young people.”